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Raft the Mighty Futaleufu with the Outdoor Adventure Club March 12 - 20 , 2009
NOTE: this trip is also available other dates- inquire if you would like to join in another week.
The Futaleufu, located in northern Patagonia, is without a doubt one of the world's best kayaking and rafting rivers. OAC has been contracting with one of the original outfitters on the Futaleufu and has the most comfortable base camp on the river. The rapids on the Fu can be big, powerful and fun! They range up to Class IV and V.
The Futaleufu river valley was uninhabited until the 1920’s and the Chilean cowboys (huaso) proudly preserve their identity today in the valley. They live simply using traditional oxen carts for transport and each summer welcome a handful of adventurers to the Rio Futaleufu. Its azure color and frothy white water are the stuff that make up some of the most continuous rapids on a river anywhere. It is a large volume river with huge holes and powerful hydraulics, yet with skillful navigation and aerobic paddling, rafts bust through the white water and crest the peaks of mighty wave trains with pure pleasure. Come paddle the Rio Futaleufu. There really is no river like it! As the locals say "a place so lovely that it must have been painted by God".
Each day of your adventure you hit the rapids, explore the rio area, and relax at our beautiful base camp. Each year we team up with our international river rafting partner, Bio Bio Expeditions Worldwide, and we are able to offer this trip to OAC members at discounted rates. (see below)
Itinerary:
Day Two:
After a short hike or a swim, you may want to soak in the riverside hot tub or enjoy a hot shower. Then, we gather in the sunset bar for our first welcome happy hour. We will introduce the entire river crew and go over the week’s agenda. After happy hour, a hearty dinner will be served. It does tend to cool down quite a bit when the sun sets below the peaks so we dress warmly in the evenings.
We use a cataraft combined with ace safety-kayakers as part of our “safety net.” Each raft is captained by a highly trained and intuitive river guide, who guides the boat from a stern-mounted oar frame. The advantage to the oar frame is greater control in pointing the bow straight through bus size holes and 15-foot high “haystack” wave trains. Don't think that being in an oar boat means you're just along for the ride, though. Like most OAC rafting trips you'll be part of a paddling team that needs to work together to maneuver your raft through the river. This style is appropriate for high volume, rivers with strong currents, like the Futaleufú.
The first section that we raft, from camp down to Puente Futaleufú (the Futaleufú Bridge), is only 10 km, but offers more rapids per kilometer than anywhere else on the river. It is the perfect warm-up run and it is non-stop fun! The rapids of note are “El Cojín”, the Cushion, and “Mundaca”, a local family name.
At take-out, we meet our vehicles for a 20-minute ride back to camp. Those who would prefer a “lower body” workout to complement their paddling are welcome to run back or ride one of our mountain bikes from take-out to camp. When we get to camp, you can choose to go fly-fishing, try out a kayak, practice yoga, nap in a hammock, enjoy the sauna, have a massage, go for a hike or soak in the hot tub. Taking a hot shower, either indoors or under the big sky, feels very luxurious while camping in the remote wilderness of northern Patagonia! Of course, for the hardy, the river provides a cold bath and refreshing swim.
As the sun sinks behind the mountains, enjoy a game of chess or cards at the sunset bar. Every late afternoon is “Happy Hour” with an open bar stocked with beer, wine, soda, and juice. Then, we gather together in the open-air kitchen/dining area, the “Galpon”, for a candlelight sit-down dinner featuring fresh locally-grown produce and fresh-baked breads. After dinner, enjoy the campfire and the stars before retiring to your cozy tent on your private platform. The sound of the river will lull you to sleep and send you off dreaming of the next day of adventure in Chile.
Day Four: Officially, day two of our rafting extravaganza. Our aim is to settle into a river rhythm that will be utilized in order to successfully raft the next few sections the Fu. After breakfast, we will launch our rafts from camp and have lunch on the river. After we pass the Puente Futaleufú (yesterday’s take-out), we immediately round the corner to meet a big stomping continuous cascade of waves known as “Mas o Menos”, translated, “More or Less”. This is a good stepping stone towards our first true blue class V technical rapid, “Casa de Piedra” (House of Rock) which is right around the next corner. We will get out of our rafts to scout this massive boulder choked rapid from the banks of the Fu. It is formed like a series of water wheels that channel all of their fury into a final churning pit with a dragon’s back highway through it; that is, if you hit it on line.
Day Five: Today, we venture deeper into the heart of Patagonia on horseback. Our ride, approximately eight miles long, takes us into the Rio Azul (Blue River) valley, which is surrounded by snow-capped peaks. In the valley, we follow a narrow trail as we ride next to the turquoise waters of the Rio Azul. We will stop and have lunch along the way and plan to reach our wilderness camp, “La Cascada” (the waterfall), by late afternoon. “La Cascada” is built at the base of a 120-foot waterfall in an enclave of old-growth, native forest. Upon arrival at “La Cascada”, we can relax and enjoy the glorious waterfall, hike through the forest, or go for a swim and then relax on the river-front beach of the Azul. The camp includes hot showers, a sunset bar, a beautiful wood hot tub, and the hand crafted “Quincho” (a traditional Patagonian dining area).
Before we reach camp, we will pass through several local farms stopping to buy fresh provisions for our evening in the wilderness. Items such as cheese, bread, jams, vegetables and chicha, the local fermented cider, may be available. Visiting local families and their “campos” (translated “farms”) gives insight to the Patagonian frontier lifestyle. We will enjoy a beach “asado” to celebrate our arrival at this glorious private retreat. Dinner will be eaten in our riverside dining area or around the campfire followed by a bon fire and guitar music on the beach. You will retire to your private tent platform along the creek with only the sounds of flowing water to soothe you to sleep.
Day Six: Today, you have several choices available to you. The first option, for keen horse riders, is to ride across the Rio Azul River and farther up the Azul valley. Today’s ride will reach the tributaries that form the Azul and reveal one of the most spectacularly beautiful cascading staircase waterfalls in Chile. The cascade falls 300 feet over smooth granite and jagged rocky edges exploding off the rock’s faces at different angles causing rainbows to form. One can relax and lie mesmerized at the base of the waterfall for hours. Towards afternoon we will ride back to the stable and return to Base Camp for happy hour in the sunset bar.
The second option, for those who are feeling river adventurous and want “to paddle their own”, is to hop into inflatable kayaks and navigate the narrow and technical Rio Azul to its confluence downstream with the Futaleufu River. Both of these options provide one of the most memorable days of fun filled adventure imaginable.
Day Seven: We will have an early breakfast in camp then travel 35 kilometers up the road to visit the town of Futaleufú. You will have about an hour to stroll around this sleepy mountain town whose central plaza is filled with the fragrance of rose bushes and cedar trees.
After strolling around town, we will launch our boats on the Rio Espolon. This crystal-clear river meanders for 2 miles before it flows into the Rio Futaleufú, one mile above the “Inferno Canyon”. This upper canyon requires aggressive class V paddling and is the most difficult section of white water on the river. Many other options exist for those who choose not to participate in Inferno Canyon.
After lunch, our first obstacle is “Throne Room,” a class V+ rapid for kayaks, a ghost boat rapid for rafts. By walking around this rapid, we get a great bird’s eye view of an almost ‘river wide’ hole that could destroy a raft. Back on board our rafts, we are dealt a Royal Flush; a continuous class IV corridor of rapids does not let up until we get to our take-out spot at the Rio Azul footbridge. The rafts are left for the night, tethered on shore.
Early evening is spent in camp getting ready for the evening festivities. We journey over to the neighboring farm of Miguel Toro who, at 70-years young, is one of the most colorful and charming natives of the valley. At his Casa de Té, his daughter Blanca and her partner Umberto prepare a very special treat — a delicious dinner called “Curanto” that is typical of the south of Chile and the island of Chiloe.
Day Eight: Today, we must be mentally and physically well prepared for the river. We call it the “summit day” as we aim to top our already great paddling days with the best day of white water in the world.
After a nutritious breakfast, we head up river to the footbridge where we left the rafts the previous day. As our day on the river begins, the blue glacial runoff from the Rio Azul River merges into the Fu from the right. The views of the snow capped mountain peaks and jagged ridges of the mountain “Las Tres Monjas” (translated, “the three Nuns”) are absolutely breathtaking. A six-kilometer stretch of warm-up rapids leads us to the longest and toughest rapid that we will raft, “The Terminator.” We scout and study our line, then we take the plunge and drop in. “Left turn, right turn, dig it in — hard forward!” are a few of the commands that might be heard. The next three miles are non-stop rapids. After an aerobic workout, we pump through the enormous haystack wave train known as the “Himalayas”. Just when we need it the river calms down and we float gently to lunch, served at our base camp.
After lunch, we return to the river to complete the last task for the day, tackling as much white water as possible. We raft the whole section of river from camp to below Casa de Piedra. At take-out, cold beers and tea are waiting. We make a triumphant return to camp to celebrate our days spent exploring Futaleufú valley and river.
Day Nine: An early start gets us out of bed. After loading up your personal gear, our van will take you to Bariloche to catch your flight to Buenos Aires. An afternoon flight returns you to Buenos Aires for an evening arrival where you transfer to the international departure lounge, pass through customs and shop for duty free wines. We hope when you board the airplane you will look back upon your time in Chile and the friends you have made and think of the beauty of the Futaleufú River and Patagonian wilderness. Ciao amigos, Ciao Ciao Chile. (B)
A note on weather: Important Travel Information: Is This Trip For You?
Our base camp was developed with comfort in mind with amenities like private tent platforms with beds, hot showers, wood-burning hot tub, sauna, massage studio, yoga platform, and the Sunset Bar.
We've had everyone from first-time rafters to those wanting to raft all of the great rivers of the world.
Guides:
Food:
Transportation:
After your arrival in Bariloche, all transportation is included in the trip price.
Accommodations: Every morning, as you designate, hot coffee or tea is brought to you as your morning wake up call.
Money:
Please do not book airline tickets for this trip until you have been confirmed on the trip!
Pricing:
Let us know if you have any questions about this trip. Please send inquiries to Richard@OutdoorAdventureClub.com
Ready to sign up for the Raft the Mighty Futaleufu trip? Download our registration form and either scan and email it to us at elbrus@OutdoorAdventureClub.com, or fax it to 415 771 1891 ATTN: Richard
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After breakfast, we will board our private vehicles and begin the drive to Chile. This is a beautiful drive through both Nahuel Huapi Park and then Alceres National Park which is full of the ancient Alceres tree- the South American equivalent of the redwood. We will drive through the frontier, guacho towns of Esquel and Trevelin that were settled a century ago by Welsh farmers. This region of Patagonia wade made famous by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid! The terrain alternates between lush forest and emerald green valleys, aquamarine lakes, and the windswept plains of the Patagonia steppe. In the afternoon, we will reach the remote, rugged rain forest as we get our first glimpse of the Futaleufu river and then follow it down stream to our basecamp. On the way to camp, we pass a few farms that are carved into the ancient rainforest allowing us a glimpse of frontier living, Chileno style. We arrive at our basecamp where your private tent platform, complete with river views and comfortable beds will be waiting for you. Our enthusiastic guides will lead you to your sweet new “home away from home” on the river!
Day Three: Wake up on the banks of the Fu and enjoy your first morning in camp. We rise with the warmth of the sun and have breakfast around 9 am. A pre-breakfast yoga class is available on our customized yoga platform with river views! Mornings tend to be crisp and dewy so prepare to dress warmly - a fleece is perfect. Today is a river day. We will launch our rafts from base camp after a thorough safety briefing. In a safe ‘eddy’, a short distance downstream, we’ll do a set of practice rescue drills. This allows the crew in each raft to hone their skills and prepare to raft as a team.
After this rapid, we will run the remaining class 3 and 4 rapids as our hearts resume beating at their normal rates. If you have the energy and desire, you can ride a mountain bike back to camp. We will have a vehicle waiting for the rest of us for the short scenic drive back to camp. Upon return, we will celebrate the day, enjoy the spa and get ready for yet another fabulous dinner.
Five distinct rapids form a narrow, sinuous river passage creating a wet surge and a “full-on” adrenaline rush. As we come out of “Exit”, the last rapid, we enter into a long calm. The current remains swift and we cruise many miles downstream arriving at the mandatory portage around the fierce “Zeta” rapid. We have lunch on the rocks as the crew “ghost” boats the rafts through this treacherous rapid.
For the evening’s festivities, Rolando and Nelli will prepare a typical Chilean Asado — lamb roasted over a bed of coals, various ensaladas, potatoes and farm-fresh bread. We toast the river and give thanks for our safe passage. Under a bright starry sky, we will spend our last night together as a group on the banks of the mighty Fu with the guides and crew.